Minor Premiers Sutherland will have to do it the hard way if they want to retain their title after a scrappy scoreless draw with Blacktown last night.

The crowd, a lowly 500, weren't treated to much excitement apart from an exciting 5 minute spell at the end of the first half and a few lively raids on goal intermittently during the second term.

Early in the First Half the Sharks defence was at sixes and sevens and if Blacktown had capitalised on a few gifted opportunities they may well have taken an early lead. However, Sutherland soon settled down but in attack they were constantly thwarted by the "tall timbers" in the Demon's defence; namely Tyler Simpson, Paul Karbon and captain Damien Foxe.

Blacktown did have a golden opportunity in the 35th minute when Simpson failed to score in front of goal.

A great chance went Sutherland's way in the 42nd minute when a shot from Nathan Ralph was just parried away by Michael Herbert in the Blacktown goal. From the ensuing corner, Sharks marksman, Brad Boardman just headed wide and over the next 2 minutes both Pangagiotis Nikas and Matthew Katz tested Herbert further with well-struck strikes from the edge of the box. This little 5 minute flurry really brought the crowd alive from their seemingly comatose state.

Unfortunately the second half didn't rise to any great heights and it seemed as if Blacktown had settled on an away point. Rarely did Sutherland keeper, Nathan Denham, exert himself but he was stretched to parry Nick Sama's shot away in the 74th minute.

Chris Price came close for the Sharks in the 82nd minute when his shot teasingly went across the face of the goal and Jimmy Nikas brought a save from Herbert after a great cross from the left by Matthew Hall in the 85th minute.

It's probably a game that Sutherland would want to forget as they didn't seem a patch on the team they were last year. But all credit to Blacktown whose defiant defence on the night helped them to a share of the spoils.

Under 20: Sutherland Sharks 3 - Blacktown City Demons 6